peacock tank. what do you think?

[pipebash]

So I've been kickin around the idea of setting up a standard 55 african cichlid tank and was wanting to know what you guys thought about the stocklist.

2 aulo. maleri island peacocks
2 aulo. rubescens
2 aulo. stuartgranti
2 cobue
2 syno. flavitaeniatus
2 syno. multipunctatus

Is this understocked, overstocked and what about aggression? Can there only be 1 of each and only one species of cats? Thanks for any input

 

[Coler]

The main thing in a 55 is you either want to stock all males (requires mixing 1 of a number of species, avoiding similar colourations to prevent conspecific aggression) or, if mixing genders, 1 male and 2 or 3 females of say 3 or 4 species. Otherwise, males of the same species will fight, or if you have not enough females in the latter option the sole female will be harassed, perhaps to death.

Syno. multipuncatus are a good choice - lovely catfish and will do well with the malawis.

 

[pipebash]

allright cool thanks

 

[Rbishop]

good advice by Coler,as normal...

 

[mostlycichlids]

I am planning an all male peacock tank with a couple wild Peacock species. I have found the hard way not to get the same species of peacock. I have sense been collecting and they are currently in my 120g with Mbuna. To be moved in a month. An all Male tank is definately the way to go.

 

[Coler]

I'd do all male as well - just for the colours.

But, before you go down that road, check whether your LFS will accept returns, or have a spare tank so you can move around problem fish (i.e. those that get hyper dominant or those that can't hold their own). In fact, you should have plan B whenever you put one cichlid in with another generally.